Mali Mandates

The Bundestag, the German parliament, today approved mandates for the Bundeswehr in Mali. It voted 496 to 67, with four abstentions, in favor of German participation in the EU Training Mission (EUTM) in Mali. The Bundeswehr will provide the Malian army with engineering training, in addition to medical support and training. The mandate places a ceiling of 180 German soldiers in the EUTM.

Airbus A310 MRTT refueling two Eurofighters (Luftwaffe/Marc Thöne)

The Bundestag also voted 492 to 66, with eight abstentions, in favor of German support for the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA). The Luftwaffe has already committed three C-160D Transall transport aircraft and an Airbus A310 and set up a supporting air base in Dakar for the airlift of AFISMA, but required a mandate to extend this support to include aerial refueling of French fighters by Luftwaffe A310 Multi Role Transport Tanker aircraft. This mandate places a ceiling of 150 German troops supporting AFISMA.